Baby-led weaning is when you offer your baby food that they can pick up and eat themselves. This is instead of spoon feeding them.
To do this, your baby needs to be able to:
- sit upright
- have good head control
- pick up and hold food
- bring food to their mouth
Most babies develop these skills at around 6 months.
Baby-led weaning can work well along with spoon feeding. The most important thing is to offer your baby a wide variety of foods. This way they can get all the nutrients they need to grow and develop.
Important
Never leave you child alone with food. They could choke.
Your baby's needs
With baby-led weaning, it's important to offer your baby a varied and balanced diet. Your baby needs enough energy to keep pace with their rapid growth. Make sure they are getting the important vitamins and minerals they need.
Your baby’s birth weight doubles by 6 months and triples by age 1. This rapid growth and development are not repeated at any other time in their life.
Breast or formula milk will give your baby all the nutrients they need until around 6 months.
From 6 months milk alone is not enough for your baby. It is still an important part of their diet, but they need a variety of solid food. This is to make sure that they get all the nutrients they need.
For example, it's important to make sure that they have iron rich foods in their diet.
Nutrients your baby needs during weaning
Offer finger foods
Offer your baby suitable finger foods. For example, a finger of toast or plain rice cake.